Ventilated shoe



JVA. WILKINS VENTILATED SHOE June 12, 1934.

Filed May 29, 1933 INVENTQR Jmes A W0 (fans ATTORN EYS WITNESSES@% 9+ Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoes, and its objects are as follows:

First, to provide an inconspicuous ventilating Valve for shoes and the like comprising a valve or buttonhole slit which spreads and opens in the act of Walking for the purpose of letting out and drawing in air.

Second, to locate the valve at the inner side of the shoe at a point beside the arch of the 0 foot where it will be subject to the full pumping action of the foot in walking.

lhird, to make the edges of the slit in substantially confronting, non-overlapping relationchip so as to close flush when at rest.

Fourth, to offset the quarter and vamp at the intended place of the slit so as to form the slit when the offsets are overlapped, the double row of stitching continuing unbrokenly through the overlaps and beside the edges of the slit to .-disguise the slit as nearly as possible as well as to secure the lining adjacently to the slit edges.

Fifth, to make the lining continuous over the slit on the inside of the shoe to prevent an excessive circulation of air in cold weather.

Sixth, to provide a slit for shoe ventilation, the flush edges of which are subject to lateral or lip motion for opening and closing the slit by the action of walking.

Seventh, to provide a ventilator slit which is perfectly smooth on the inside of the shoe, consequently avoiding undue friction and the formation of blisters on the foot.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved shoe showing how the ventilating valve or slit closes when the foot is in a rest position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing how the slit opens in a walking position.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view intended to show how the offsets are overlapped to define a slit by the flush relationship of the adjacent edges.

Figure 5 is a detail section showing how the lining may be sewed together either temporarily or permanently to make it continuous across the slit for protection in cold weather.

The shoe 1 is of conventional construction insofar as the provision of a quarter 2, Vamp 3, toe-cap 4, outsole 5 and heel 6 are concerned. The improvement comprises the provision of a slit '7 or ventilating valve at a point substantially beside the arch 8 of the foot.

Ordinarily the slit 7 goes all the way through, that is to say, through the outer leather and through the lining 9 (Fig. 3). The slit is made in the following manner: The quarter.2 is offset at 10 (Fig. 4-) while the vamp 3 is offset at 11. These offsets comprise flanges which are overlapped until the adjacent edges 12 substantially meet. These edges define the slit 7. They are intended to close flush with each other, or substantially so (Fig. 1), so as to close the slit when the foot is at rest.

In the act of walking (Fig. 2) the'buckling of the shoe will cause the edges 12 to bend laterally with a lip motion, thus opening the slit 7 and affording communication with the interior of the shoe. The repeated flattening (Fig. 1) and bowing (Fig. 2) of the arch 8 sets up a pumping action like that of a bellows to circulate air inside of the shoe. When the foot is at rest the slit '7, which looks something like a buttonhole is hardly noticeable.

A double row of stitching 13 continues unbrokenly through the offsets or overlapped flanges 10, 11 and down beside the edges 12 of the slit. These rows of stitching aid in disguising the slit, but they also secure the lining 9. (Fig. 3) substantially along the edges of the slit.

In winter time it may be desirable to make the lining 9 (Fig. 5) continuous. This will usually be done by a short row of appropriate stitching 14 which will draw the edges of the lining together and close the slit. The lining is porous and will let air through, but the lining acts as a screen serving to diminish the circulation of air so that the wearer will not sufier discomfort.

In all cases the extremities of the slit are reinforced so as not to tear farther. At the upper end the reinforcement comprises a strong transverse stitch 15. At the lower end the usual sewing of the upper structure to the sole will do the securing.

It is desired to point out that the slit '7 lies within the confines of the double row 13 of stitching. Generally the slit takes the same direction as the stitching, but it would be permissible and entirely within the spirit of the invention to cant the slit a little, however, keeping it between the rows of stitching as already brought out.

When reduced to its fundamental principle the invention consists of sewing the upper or quarter 2 and vamp 3 together with a double row of stitching, and producing the slit between the rows through the leather and through the lining.

I claim:

1. A shoe comprising a sole and an upper structure secured to the sole, said upper structure comprising a quarter and a vamp, offsets on the quarter and vamp in overlapped relationship, the adjacent edges of the quarter and Vamps defining a slot continuing from the offsets substantially to the sole, and means to secure the offsets to each other down to the beginning of the slit.

2. A shoe comprising a sole having an upper structure secured thereto, said upper structure comprising a quarter and a vamp, offsets on the quarter and vamp in overlapping relationship and having adjacent edges defining a slit, a lining severed the approximate length of the slit, and a double row of stitching to secure the offsets to each other, said stitching continuing unbrokenly past the upper end of the slit and down beside the edges to secure the severed lining to the quarter and vamp.

3. A shoe comprising a sole and an upper structure secured thereto, said structure comprising a quarter and a vamp, portions of the quarter and vamp being overlapped and having adjacent remaining portions flush With each other to define a slit, and means to secure the overlapped portions to each other down to the beginning of the slit.

4. A shoe comprising a sole and an upper structure secured thereto, said structure com prising a quarter and a vamp, portions of the quarter and vamp being overlapped and having adjacent remaining portions fiush with each other to define a slit, means to secure the overlapped portions to each other down to the beginning of the slit, and a lining extending continuously over the slit on the inside of the shoe.

5. A shoe comprising a quarter having an offset in one direction a vamp having an offset in the opposite direction, said offsets being overlapped until the adjacent edges come substantially flush to define a slit, a sole to which the quarter and vamp are secured closing the bottom end of the slit, securing means for fastening the offsets together down to the upper end of the slit, and reinforcing means applied transversely of the offsets at said upper end of the slit.

6. A shoe comprising a vamp and a quarter, and a double row of stitching securing the overlapping portions of the vamp and quarter together down to a slit through the shoe Within the confines of the double row of stitching, said double row of stitching being continued down beside the slit.

7. A shoe comprising a sole and an upper structure secured to the sole, said upper structure comprising a quarter and a vamp, offsets on the quarter and vamp in overlapped relas tionship, the adjacent edges of the quarter and vamp definng a slit continuing from the offsets substantially to the sole, and means to secure the cifsets to each other at the beginning of the slit.

8. A shoe comprising a sole and an upper structure secured to the sole, said upper structure comprising a quarter and a vamp, offsets on the quarter and vamp in overlapped relationship, the adjacent edges of the quarter and vamp defining a slit continuing from the offsets substantially to the sole, and means to secure the oifsets to each other down to and at the beginning of the slit.

JAMES A. WILKINS. 

